Metrolinx gives Rob Ford’s transit plan a lift

Rob Ford's transit plan gets a lift from Metrolinx

TORONTO • Just two days before the greatest challenge to his leadership since his election, Mayor Rob Ford won a qualified nod of support from the chief of the agency that will spearhead transit expansion.

While stopping short of endorsing a particular transit blueprint, Bruce McCuaig said Mr. Ford’s preferred plan for underground light rail on Eglinton Avenue “delivers greater benefit” than the Transit City version a coalition of councillors want to revive.

The Metrolinx president’s carefully chosen words come in the lead up to a showdown between the Mayor’s subway-focused vision for transit, and the predominantly surface light-rail plan pushed by TTC chair Karen Stintz and a large group of politicians. Council will decide the matter on Wednesday, and all signs point to a close vote.

Insisting he is not advocating for any one plan, Mr. McCuaig on Monday called reporters to the headquarters of the provincial transit agency to put “the facts on the table” regarding the $8.4-billion agreement hammered out between the Mayor and the province. The attributes of a fully underground Eglinton line as the Mayor wants, instead of one buried only in a central section, include a 25% cut to travel time, more than double the peak ridership, higher capacity and greater reliability because it is separate from traffic, said Mr. McCuaig.

He played down the extra money already spent designing low-floor vehicles for a street-level line, a point Ms. Stintz has used to bolster her case, saying it was a small component of the contract.

“There are benefits to both approaches,” Mr. McCuaig acknowledged, such as more stations on a surface LRT. He added it depends on whether one looks at the full plan or a specific project. “While the revised [Eglinton] Crosstown project is higher cost, it does deliver greater benefits.”

He said Metrolinx would consider a return to Transit City, but emphasized it wants the Mayor, city councillors and the TTC to agree on one position. It’s a scenario that seems increasingly unlikely among the deeply divided council.

Councillor Josh Matlow, who backs Ms. Stintz, called Mr. McCuaig’s analysis “simplistic”. He said it fails to look at the bigger picture, which is to use the $2-billion currently being spent to bury the Eglinton line in the eastern suburbs instead on other parts of the city.

New analysis from environmental think-tank The Pembina Institute found the four light rail lines would bring transit to 120,000 more Torontonians than the Mayor’s plan, including the Sheppard subway, at about 70% of the cost.

“It makes sense from a transit perspective, it serves the most residents in the city,” Ms. Stintz told reporters on Monday after submitting a petition from 24 councillors calling for Wednesday’s special meeting.

She wants council to endorse the light rail lines on Sheppard, Finch and Eglinton avenues, and a revamped Scarborough RT, instead of the Mayor’s plan, which envisions a Sheppard subway extension that counts on private-sector financing yet to be lined up.

Mr. Ford did not take questions on the revolt, but his brother had no such reluctance.

“It’s sheerly political what’s happening right now,” Doug Ford told reporters, suggesting that some opponents are retaliating against the administration for not giving them more power.

“I don’t believe it’s going to be a complete decision that’s made on Wednesday. It’s up to Metrolinx, it’s up to the Premier,” said Mr. Ford. “Just stand by, and we’ll see what the recourse is.”

He said he is disappointed Metrolinx isn’t taking more of a stand; he believes its “true opinion” is in favour of an underground Eglinton line.

Other Ford allies denounced the opposition. Giorgio Mammoliti called it a “coup” and said residents in his ward were never happy with the plan for light rail on Finch. He said he believes a subway in the North York corridor is still a possibility.

Lashing out at “lazy” TTC bureaucrats who have not found private partners to build a subway, Mr. Mammoliti called for chief general manager Gary Webster to be fired. There are more questions about the future of Ms. Stintz at the helm of the TTC. Councillor Norm Kelly, who is a member of the transit commission, said it was unusual for a chair to be in such open conflict with the mayor.

“Could you have imagined Giambrone giving the finger to Miller?” he asked, referring to former TTC chair Adam Giambrone during former mayor David Miller’s tenure.